Page 98 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

“You’re fucking joking.” Rhys says, running a rough hand over his face, a horrified look stamped across his face.

“Why would you do that?” I ask him, still disbelieving.

He doesn’t look at either of us and simply lifts a shoulder. “I just felt like it.”

The words sound as hollow as their meaning and land to deafening silence from both Rhys and I.

“You’re a dickhead.” I eventually bite out, shaking my head disgustedly.“You don’t deserve her.”

Bellamy loves him unconditionally, hismanyflaws and all, and that loyalty to him has made her part of our fucked up little family.

And you don’t hurt your family like that.

But as much as he just hurt her, he’s hurt himself more in the long run. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him and he’s going to regret it.

His eyes flash as they finally turn on me. “Don’t talk about what she deserves, she’s not yours to worry about.”

“She’s not yours anymore either.” I clap back.

He jumps to his feet but stops when Rhys cuts in. “I don’t believe for a second that you did this.”

His eyes snap down to him. “I fucked Lyra.”

It’s Rhys’ turn to stand. “You love Bellamy.”

“I don–,”

“Whether you want to admit it or not,” he continues, speaking over Rogue’s interruption, “You do. You would never hurt her like this, because you know what it’s like when people who love you hurt you,” he adds with a pointed look. “So no, I don’t buy that you fucked Lyra or that Bellamy magically walked in at that exact moment. I don’t buy it, but if you did do it, then I think you just made the biggest mistake of your life.”

“Believe what you want.” Rogue answers, his jaw set. “I did it.”

“Fuck this, I’m going to bed.”

Rhys storms out and Rogue leaves not long afterwards, although he takes the bottle and goes towards the game room, likely to keep drowning his sorrows.

I eventually go to bed as well, but not before thinking a while longer about how Bellamy, Thayer, and Sixtine have our entire house in shambles without even trying.

***

A few days later, my back slams against the door of the bathroom as Rhys’ elbow comes down and pins me violently by the throat.

I can feel and hear the bangs of Thayer’s fists against the door behind me as she screams at him to let her out. I knew this situation was going to go tits up when she asked to borrow my sweater.

We’re at Devlin’s house where he’s having a party to celebrate our football championship win.

Rhys is the one who invited Thayer tonight, but for some reason I found her alone earlier, cornered by Devlin, in the middle of what looked like a heated conversation.

I intervened, took her to an upstairs bathroom when she had a drink spilled on her, and ultimately lent her my sweater when her top couldn’t be salvaged.

I should have listened to my instincts and told her to go topless. I didn’t and now I’ve got a furious Rhys ready to murder me because he thinks I messed around with her.

I didn't, of course.

I’d never. Not even if Six hadn’t been keeping me busy the last few days.

And she has, I think with a smirk.

No, Rhys is misreading this. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let this perfect opportunity to get back at him for touching Sixtine at the grand opening go to waste.

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